Now he believes England have the potential to become a force - if Roy Hodgson is brave enough to throw in the kids should England beat Poland and qualify for the World Cup Finals tomorrow night.

No European team has ever won a World Cup in south America.

Hasselbaink believes England, as a result, should write off the tournament and select a first team including the likes of the likes of Ross Barkley, Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling, Luke Shaw and Jack Wilshere if they make it.

Hasselbaink agrees with England defender Rio Ferdinand that it if England want long-term results it is time to sacrifice our major tournament chances for long-term development and go with youth.

“I understand exactly where Rio is coming from.” said the Royal Antwerp boss. “Every footballer knows that England - with all due respect - is not going to win the World Cup.

“It is really short-term thinking from the kind of person that criticises that opinion.

“If they are smart they will accept that they are not going to win the World Cup. “So let the younger boys go. Let them get their experience. Let them make their mistakes and grow. Bring the youngster boys with them.

“Why is it not better to give boys like Barkley, Sturridge, Sterling, Shaw, Wilshere, all those boys, a run?”

Hasselbaink, currently reviving the career of ex-Spurs midfielder John Bostock - believes the FA need to hold their nerve and accept that the youngsters will make mistakes as part of their learning curve.

He added: “They have to say: ‘We won’t be expecting to win competitively for the next two years because we are going to play youngsters and a few older players.’

“In Holland, the youngster is allowed to make mistakes but has to learn from it. In England the youngster, if he gets a chance, is not allowed to make a mistake and he doesn’t get the time to learn from it.”

Hasselbaink is practising what he preaches at Antwerp where his team sit fourth in the Second Division having beaten RWDM Brussels 4-1 on Saturday.

“I just want to progress this club. I see so much that we can do - and we are doing it.” he said

“We have chosen a few boys who still have great potential even though it has not worked with their club. This is a little bit their last chance. So we know that they have to give everything.”

Back in England, Hasselbaink has questioned the scattergun approach to management that has sent Mark Hughes replace Tony Pulis at Stoke.

He said: “If Stoke want to see a different kind of football, I say, ‘Great choice’.

“But if in two or three months they sack Mark Hughes because he didn’t get results, then I’ve got a problem. You’ve got to back your man."